Tag: Braiden McGregor

What to Watch in the Spring Game

The spring game will be shown on the Big Ten Network on Saturday, April 2, at 12:00 p.m.

Here are a few things I’ll be curious to watch:

WHO TAKES OVER FOR HASSAN HASKINS?
Michigan needs to replace its leading rusher and toughest back in Hassan Haskins, a 6’1″, 220-pounder who is off to the NFL after rushing for 1,327 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021. The Wolverines have two very talented running backs left, Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, but neither one has proven to be a bruiser or short yardage back. They have home run speed but were listed at 200 and 202 pounds, respectively, last season. Redshirt freshman Tavierre Dunlap (6’0″, 222) might be able to step into the role as a big back, but does he have the instincts and power that Haskins showed? Michigan doesn’t need a leading rusher – that will be Corum or Edwards – but they need someone who can pound the ball inside.

Hit the jump for more.

Michigan 59, Maryland 18

That was quietly ugly for Maryland. With my high school season having ended last week, I made the trip to Maryland because I had never been there for a game. Watching the game in person, Michigan was certainly in control for the whole game but in the first half, it seemed like the Terrapins were holding their own. Michigan should have been able to run all over them, but they couldn’t. Michigan should have been able to beat up and bruise Taulia Tagovailoa, but they couldn’t. It was a comfortable 24-3 lead at halftime, but it never seemed like Michigan was beating the pants off them. And then . . . well . . . the third quarter happened, when Michigan exploded for 28 points. Even though Maryland scored 15 in that stanza, the rout was on. I looked up at the scoreboard and thought, “Is Michigan about to score 60 on a Big Ten opponent not named Rutgers?” In truth, no, they weren’t. But they got as close as possible.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #45 Braiden McGregor

Name: Braiden McGregor
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 260 lbs.
High school: Port Huron (MI) Northern
Position: Outside linebacker
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #17
Last year: I ranked McGregor #42 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He redshirted.
TTB Rating: 87

McGregor suffered a terrible knee injury as a senior in high school during the 2019 season. With medical science the way it is, I thought he would be ready to play in 2020, but that turned out not to be the case.

Word out of practice is that McGregor is folliwing in Aidan Hutchinson’s footsteps as a strong player. The coaching staff is using the two in similar ways. Chris Hutchinson, Aidan’s dad, recently said that Aidan would be a standup outside linebacker on first and second downs before getting into a three-point stance to rush the passer on third down. Will McGregor be the #2 guy at outside linebacker? That remains to be seen. But I have heard good things about him, and I think McGregor is probably one of the top three most talented pass rushers on the team, along with Hutchinson and Jaylen Harrell. I hope the coaching staff is grooming him to replace Hutchinson in 2022.

Prediction: Backup outside linebacker

2020 Season Countdown: #42 Braiden McGregor

Name: Braiden McGregor
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 248 lbs.
High school: Port Huron (MI) Northern
Position: Defensive end
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: McGregor was a senior in high school (LINK). He made 32 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks.
TTB Rating: 90 87

McGregor lost some steam during the 2020 recruiting cycle after he played in the first seven games and then suffered a knee injury. He was in 5-star range at one point and ranked #28 overall when he committed, but those recruits often drop down a little bit, and the injury didn’t help. Not only did that perhaps dim some hopes for him, but he also wasn’t able to participate in any post-season All-American showcases.

I’m bumping McGregor down from a 90 to an 87 for one main reason: I rated Aidan Hutchinson an 88, and I think McGregor is a step behind him. Hutchinson is extremely technical, whereas McGregor is probably a little better overall athlete. I think McGregor will take a year to get up to speed with the college game, and then he should probably step in for Kwity Paye as a sophomore in 2021.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

Hit the jump for his junior highlights (no senior highlight reel exists, as far as I know).

2020 Recruiting Awards

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You can take a look back at the awards for the 2019 class if you want (LINK).

Best Overall Recruit: DE Braiden McGregor
McGregor lost a little bit of steam in the recruiting world when his senior season ended in a fizzle after a knee injury. That doesn’t put a damper on my excitement for him, though. Michigan does a good job of developing defensive talent – particularly defensive ends – and I expect that to continue with McGregor.

Hit the jump for the rest of the awards.